THE POTENTIAL

To make a smaller military force more effective, DOD is
planning to rely more than ever before on the use of high-technology C4I systems
to leverage its military assets. DOD's vision of the future--Joint Vision
2010--is one of information superiority.2 In this vision, combat planning and execution are much faster, and smaller forces are much more autonomous and lethal. Integrated C4I systems, which exchange data and work together, help military forces to prevail against adversaries by operating in a rapid, coherent, and coordinated fashion never previously achieved. Commanders at all levels can control their forces and apply their weapons with a high degree of precision, certainty of location, and awareness of the environment and of enemy actions and intentions. Responsive and reliable information technology provides timely intelligence, greater situational awareness, and a single integrated operational picture of the battlefield.